Governor Oscar B. Colquitt signed legislation creating Jim Wells County on March 11, 1911. Taken from territory formerly a part of Nueces County. The new county was named for prominent Brownsville attorney and business leader James B. Wells, Jr. (1850-1923). The first county elections were held two months later and in January 1912 The citizens of the new county approved a bond election to finance the construction of a courthouse and jail.

The County Commissioners hired San Antonio's architect Atlee B. Ayers to design the courthouse. The laying of the cornerstone on July 25, 1912 drew a crowd of more than 2,000 people. Celebration activities included performances by the Alice Concert band and the Alice Symphony Club, as well as a barbecue, rodeo, and baseball game. Although It's original appearance has been altered, the Jim Wells Courthouse stands as a significant structure in the County's History and Continues to serve as the Center of County Government.

News & Announcements

FEMA Disaster Recovery Center

A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is now open at The Old Armory on 1207 North Cameron Street in Alice. If you had storm or flood damage from May 4 through June 22 please come by and register for assistance. FEMA representatives will be there to help you register and answer your questions as well as representatives from SBA and volunteer agencies. You must register to possibly receive assistance. Hours of operation are from 9 A.M. until 6 P.M. Monday through Friday and 9 A.M. until 2 P.M. on Saturday. The Center will be closed on Sundays.

FEMA Disaster Declaration

Jim Wells County has been included in a FEMA disaster declaration for the dates of May 4 through June 19. If you had damage to your home or business from storms or flooding events during this time period, register with FEMA now.

You can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or you can call 1-800-621-3362 toll free. Multilingual operators are available. Applicants with speech disability or hearing loss using TTY, please call 1-800-462-7585.
Applicants who use 7-1-1 or Video Relay Service, please call 1-800-621-3362.
These lines will operate from 7:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. seven days a week until further notice.

A registration deadline has been set for August 27, 2015. Please complete all paperwork that is required or you will not be considered eligible for consideration.

Jim Wells County and the City of Alice, in partnership with Blackboard Connect Inc., has instituted a regional notification system that will be able to send telephone notifications to residents and businesses within Jim Wells County impacted by, or in danger of being impacted by, an emergency or disaster. If you have a Voice over IP (VoIP) or cellular telephone and would like to be notified over that device, or if you would like an email notification, you must register those telephone numbers and/or email address for use by the notification system.

Please click on the LUCAS Logo to register for
Jim Wells County and the City of Alice's
Notification System.